There has been a huge response to the Western Cape government's call for proposals on renewable energy options like wind, wave and solar power, with calls flooding in from all over the country and across the world.
This was revealed by Mark Gordon, director of strategic environmental management in the provincial Environmental Affairs and Development Planning department, who was attending the sod-turning ceremony to mark the start of construction of South Africa's first commercial wind farm just outside Darling earlier this week.

The department launched a draft "Western Cape Integrated Energy Strategy" last month and is hosting workshops next week where it hopes a range of people and institutions will comment.

It is also calling for proposals for renewable energy sources, alternative energy, any "clean" energy and energy-efficient solutions to help the province reduce its emissions of carbon and other pollutants that accompany the use of conventional fossil fuels like oil and coal, and proportionately reduce its energy consumption.

"We have committed the Western Cape to a target of about 15% renewable energy by 2015," explained Gordon.

Additional information:
Read the full story at the Cape ArgusNews date: 15/02/2007